Special Education Consortium agreement approved for Decorah Schools; discussion tabled on proposed new Director of Special Education position

The Decorah Community School Board has approved an agreement to operate with a consortium of other schools in a contract with Crossroads Academy. New laws require that Crossroads operate only with consortiums and not individual school districts so there is no other viable option for districts, other than the impractical option of providing those unique special educational services themselves.

Decorah will be the host of the consortium, and that will include being the fiscal agent. Other schools anticipated in the consortium include: MFL-MarMac, Allamakee, Howard-Winneshiek, New Hampton, Postville, Starmont, Turkey Valley, South Winneshiek, and North Fayette.

On a related note, partly because of the host school responsibilities, Superintendent Mike Haluska asked the Board to consider adding a new Director of Special Education position (now assumed by Principal Rick Varney). Haluska says this is too much to ask of Varney, as he is already a principal for both John Cline and West Side. The Board tabled the discussion, asking for more information regarding duties, costs and funding options. They also expressed reservation, particularly since other discussions on Monday night highlighted the potential of future cutbacks at a time of uncertainty in educational funding.